Chapter XI.
Fourth, the Son of God manifests himself as the perfect restorer.
1. Now a certain man was sick, etc. Above the Lord showed himself to be the healer and preserver and director; here he shows himself to be the perfect restorer ; which is accomplished in the renewed conjunction of soul and body; and this he shows in the raising of Lazarus after four days; and this part continues until near the end of the chapter, at: The chief priests therefore gathered, etc. It is divided into two parts: because first are set forth the antecedents to the miracle; second is set forth the miracle itself, at: When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice.
First part, on the antecedents to the miracle.
The first part has four parts according to the four antecedents which it determines. In the first is noted the announcement of the illness; in the second, the arrival of the Physician, at: Then after these things he says to his disciples:
in the third, the intercession or merit of faith, at: Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, etc.; in the fourth, the hearing of piety, at: Jesus therefore, when he saw her weeping.
Therefore the announcement of the illness is described first in this order: first is touched upon the condition of the sick man; second, the announcement of the illness; third, the reason for the sickness; fourth, the delay of healing.
2. (Verse 1). The condition therefore of the sick man is described by name, when it says: Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus; by homeland, when it adds: from Bethany, to which place the Lord was accustomed to come; by kindred, when it adds: from the town of Mary and Martha, his sisters; Luke 10: "Jesus entered a certain town, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house." And he describes Mary in particular:
3. (Verse 2). Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, in which her devotion is wonderfully praised; below in chapter 12: "Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, costly"; Luke 7: "Behold, a woman brought an alabaster jar of ointment." Whose brother Lazarus was sick, by whose prayers also he was raised, as is noted below in the same chapter: "Jesus therefore, when he saw Mary weeping."
4. (Verse 3). His sisters therefore sent. Here is touched upon the second point, namely the announcement of the illness made by the sisters of Lazarus to the Lord; on account of which he says: His sisters therefore sent to him, saying : Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick. They call him Lord, not Teacher, because they were seeking a miracle, not instruction; as if they were saying: Lord, you who are powerful; Matthew 8: "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And they express the reason for aid: Behold, he whom you love; Psalm: "Let them trust in you who know your name, for you have not forsaken those who seek you, O Lord." And there is urgent need: he is sick, therefore have mercy; Psalm: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak."
5. (Vers. 4.). But when Jesus heard it, he said to them. Here the third point is touched upon, namely the reason for the infirmity, which the Lord intimates to those seeking healing; on account of which he said to them: This infirmity is not unto death, but for the glory of God. He says this according to the divine dispensation; on account of which he adds: That the Son of God may be glorified by it, that is, that through this work he may manifest his glory, because in the raising he manifested his power, and through this his glory; whence above in chapter two: "This sign Jesus performed and manifested his glory" before his disciples. But why glory was to be manifested in him, the Evangelist secretly hints: on account of a special love toward those persons; on account of which he says:
6. (Vers. 5.). Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary and Lazarus. He loved them because they loved him, according to that text of Proverbs 8: "I love those who love me"; nor is it a wonder, because, Wisdom 11, "you love all things that are, O Lord, and you hate nothing of what you have made."
7. (Vers. 6.). When therefore he heard. Here the fourth point is touched upon, namely the delay of the cure. For although he wished to cure, he did not however wish to do so immediately, but preferred to wait. Therefore he says: When therefore he heard, that is, after he heard that he was sick, then indeed he remained in the same place two days. Therefore the Lord, called by friends, did not come immediately, but waits, so that he may be sought more urgently and more ardently: Colossians 4: "Be instant in prayer, watching therein."
8. There is a manifold infirmity, namely that of the grace of virtue, to be embraced: and this is fourfold: of humility: Proverbs 30: The ants are a feeble people, who prepare their food in the summer; 1 Corinthians 1: God chose the weak things of the world and the contemptible things, etc.; Matthew 11: Because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones.
Of penitence; Ecclesiasticus 31: A grievous sickness makes the soul sober; concerning this in the Psalm: Who heals the broken of heart and binds up their wounds, or infirmities, of theirs, according to another reading.
Of patience; 2 Corinthians 12: Power is made perfect in infirmity, namely of patience, because James 1: Patience has a perfect work. Therefore it is said in 2 Corinthians 12: Gladly will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Of fellow-suffering or compassion; 2 Corinthians 11: Who is weak, and I am not weak? and 1 Corinthians 9: I became weak to the weak, that I might gain the weak.
9. Likewise, there is an infirmity of the perversity of fault, to be fled: and this is fourfold, namely of cupidity: Ecclesiastes 5: There is also another most grievous infirmity that I have seen under the sun: riches gathered to the harm of their owner, for they perish in most grievous affliction.
Of carnal pleasure; Isaiah 24: The vintage has mourned, the vine has grown weak, all who rejoiced in heart have groaned.
Of pride; Isaiah 24: The height of the people of the earth has been weakened, and the earth has been polluted by its inhabitants.
Of obstinacy; Deuteronomy 7: The Lord will take away all sicknesses, and the most grievous infirmities of Egypt, which you have known, He will not bring upon you. The infirmities of Egypt are obstinacies in evil.
10. Likewise, there is an infirmity of the difficulty of following, to be relieved: and this is fourfold: for resisting the evil of fault; Lamentations 1: My strength has been weakened; the Lord has given me into a hand from which I cannot rise; and Isaiah 40: The youths shall fall in their infirmity.
For enduring the evil of punishment; 1 Thessalonians, last chapter: Comfort the fainthearted, support the weak: against which Ezekiel 34: That which was weak you did not strengthen.
For undertaking the good: Ecclesiasticus 31: In all your works be swift, and no infirmity shall come upon you; Romans 14: But receive him who is weak in faith.
For persevering in the good: 1 Kings 2: She who had many children has grown weak. All these infirmities are to be relieved; Romans 8: The Spirit Himself helps our infirmity.